The Pittsburgh Steelers have kept a close eye on quarterbacks for the entire 2026 NFL Draft class, but it has become a less-than-ideal class.
Still, Alabama’s Ty Simpson is coming out in the class and profiles as the QB2 at large. According to ESPN’s Brooke Pryor, the Steelers have ‘closely watched’ Simpson, who they saw in person four different times this past season.
“The Steelers have closely watched Simpson, who threw for 3,567 yards, 28 touchdowns and five interceptions in his lone season as a full-time starter for the Crimson Tide,” Pryor wrote.
Simpson, a first-year starter, has come out of nowhere to become one of the top quarterbacks in the entire class. This past season, he had 28 touchdowns to five interceptions while throwing for 3557 yards with a 64 percent completion percentage.
The Crimson Tide struggled to fully get going this season despite sneaking into the College Football Playoff, and Simpson’s struggles correlated with some of their losses.
The Steelers sent their scouts to watch Simpson multiple times this past season, and they are highly familiar with the gunslinger.
If he is available with the 21st overall selection, the Steelers must decide if Simpson is a worthy enough player for them at that spot.